Developer Saber is employing a dual strategy for Turok: Origins, aiming to attract a new generation of players while retaining the elements that long-time fans of the franchise will appreciate. The upcoming dinosaur-themed first-person shooter will feature co-op gameplay as a key component to appeal to younger gamers who increasingly use video games as a social connection.
Tim Willits, development chief at Saber, explained that the team has worked to balance the inclusion of nostalgic elements, such as the iconic Cerebral Bore weapon, with features designed to draw in players unfamiliar with the Turok legacy. "It's been a balancing act to make sure that we had enough elements in it to make guys like you happy, like the Cerebral [Bore] gun, some throwbacks to the original Turok player, some other elements," Willits stated. Players will also have the option to switch between first-person and third-person perspectives. "And then the dinosaur bosses are awesome."
Willits noted that his own children, in their early twenties, have never heard of Turok, highlighting the need to build a game that is visually impressive and plays well for those with no prior experience with the series. "We want to appeal to new players that have never played a Turok game as well," he said. "That's been our guiding principle with Turok. Add things that people like you would appreciate and like, but build a game that could be attractive to new players."
This approach aligns with broader trends in the industry, where cooperative and "hangout" games have seen significant success. Titles like Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Helldivers 2 have leveraged the appeal of playing with friends, driving billions in revenue. The rise of "friendslop" games on platforms like Steam further emphasizes the demand for social gaming experiences.
Turok: Origins will allow up to three players to team up, a feature Willits believes is crucial for a significant portion of the gaming audience. "Like you and I are like, we play by ourselves. We're old. So you can play either way, but it's really important to a huge audience to at least have the option to play with someone else," he commented. The game will also feature "boss run" style encounters and a system where players collect "Echoes" to unlock Turok's powers.
Turok: Origins is scheduled for release in spring 2027 for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2.